Bienvenidos (Spanish), Be-Po-Wa-Ve (Tewa), He-Ya-Ho (Tiwa), Daanzho (Apache). These are all ways to say, Welcome! to the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area.

Each of these languages is still spoken in Northern New Mexico, a Cradle of Settlement that encompasses a mosaic of cultures, including the Jicarilla Apache, 8 Tewa and Tiwa Native Pueblos, and communities established by the descendants of Spanish colonists who settled in the area beginning in 1598, a generation before the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock.

Residents continue to speak their native languages along with English, and to share the traditions and practices of their ancestors in a cultural expression that leaves a strong imprint on residents and visitors alike. Indeed, visitors are advised that most of the place names and references are in Spanish, with Spanish pronunciations.

The Heritage Area stretches south to north from I-40 in the center of the State to the Colorado border. Area boundaries include all of Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos counties, a total area of 10,000 square miles in North-central New Mexico.

COLCHA CIRCLE: A Stitch of Northern New Mexico Culture, a new documentary film

NOW SHOWING at The Heritage Center in Alcalde, is a new Documentary film, “Colcha Circle” which captures a wide-ranging discussion on this tradition with 11 acclaimed Colcha Artists from Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado.

Fiber art is one of the oldest forms of artistic expression, and New Mexico is one of the few regions left in the United States where fiber art is thriving. Over the past centuries, fiber art has played a crucial role in the economy of this region. To fully understand and appreciate New Mexico’s diverse culture, rich traditions, and colorful history, you have to understand the art.

FEATURED ARTIST

Our Meet The Artists section will be undergoing upgrade to facilitate submission and posting of artist's profiles. This will enable visitors to contact artists of all types throughout the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area and to view samples of their work.

LAND WATER PEOPLE TIME

Your Cultural Guide to Northern New Mexico - 2018/2019 Edition

The new fourth issue of our Heritage Area publication is now available in Taos, Española, Santa Fe and vicinities at selected magazine stands and visitor centers, and at our National Heritage Center in Alcalde. You may read it online at issuu.com.

Art Exhibition of New Mexico Artists: "Without Borders: Arté Sín Fronteras"
A Partnership Project with History Colorado & The El Pueblo History Museum.

"Without Borders: Arté Sín Fronteras" is an artistic conversation with El Pueblo History Museum’s acclaimed history exhibit Borderlands of Southern Colorado. A Diverse collective of Artists from Northern New Mexico and beyond, displaying artwork in a variety of mediums, which explore the concept of Borderlands & what homelands are today. Nearly two dozen Borderlands artists share their part of a dialogue that artists are having always, within a land of shared heritage & history. The exhibit showcases diverse contemporary art media to expand on the words of philosopher Gloria Anzaldúa, “To survive the Borderlands/you must live sin fronteras/be a crossroads.”